1862 August 14 Fort Runyon

                    Fort Runyon Aust 14th 1862

My Dear Wife,
                         I want to talk with you this
beautiful pleasant morning.  I cannot put
upon paper what I want to say, for it is so much
that it would take me a life time to write it.
I want to sit down and have a good long
talk with you, about everything we could
think of that has happened since we have
been seperated; and to have the children
runing around, about us, I should be very
well contented then, for a time at least.
Please don't understand me as being dis-
contented here, for I made up my mind before
I left home that I wouldn'nt be, if it were a
possible thing to keep clear of it.
I should have thought that Wm would have taken
the death of Glover, very much to heart, as
they were always so intimate, and brotherly.
It was very sad, but I suppose it was so
ordered, Wm has done just what I would
have done, and that is, named his baby
as he has.  I think it a very pretty name, and

[page 2]
sounds pretty.  Dont you think so?
It seems to me that our friend Bacheller
is a long time geting out this way.  I
have been looking for him and the rest
of the recruits for the last week or more.
I think there must be a screw loose some
where, If I had known that they were not
coming on any sooner I would have written
in my last, for a box or two of Ayers Pills.
I am not in want of any at present, but I
like those pills if I ever do need any,You
may send some when you have a chance,
perhaps you can send a box in a newspaper
You may also send me a dollar, or two
just as you please, I have had to make
some little purchases, and my money
is nearly "played out."  I dont know as
I shall want to spend it, but I like to
have a little by me for fear what might happen

[remainder of letter from Robert, unidentified soldier in Co. M, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery
is missing]

MSS 1242